Wines of Western Australia Media Release 11th December 2025
Inaugural Regional Wine Leadership Program Graduates 12 Emerging Industry Leaders.
Collaborative partnership model addresses critical capability gap across Western Australian wine regions.
Twelve emerging wine industry leaders have graduated from the inaugural Cultivate Leadership 2025 – Great Southern program, Western Australia’s first regional leadership accelerator designed specifically for the wine sector. Delivered by Wines of Western Australia in partnership with Great Southern Wine Producers Association, DPIRD, and Wine Australia’s Rootlings program, the three-month intensive program brought together talent from across Great Southern, Margaret River, Geographe, and Blackwood Valley regions to build the strategic capability needed to navigate industry challenges.
“As Western Australia’s wine sector navigates rapid change, building strong, collaborative leadership has never been more important. Programs like Cultivate Leadership are already shaping the future, with emerging leaders stepping into regional roles, driving practical solutions and strengthening networks across the state, quotes Larry Jorgensen, CEO, Wines of Western Australia.
He adds, “The Western Australian Wine Industry Sustainability Strategy aims to empower 80 future leaders by 2029, the impact reaches far beyond a single cohort: this is about regional capacity, industry unity and creating the conditions for long-term success.”
The successful program focused on developing resilient, informed, and future-ready leadership for one of the state’s most valuable regional sectors. Building the capability, confidence, and strategic vision of Western Australia’s emerging wine industry leaders, the program’s hands-on approach saw participants develop collaborative pitch projects addressing real industry challenges, which were presented at this week’s graduation celebration featuring keynote speaker Richard Hemming MW.
The inaugural workshop, Foundation and Self-Awareness, held in Albany, established a strong base with facilitators Georgina Beniston (Executive and Personal Development Coach) and Myles Pollard (Play State Media) delivering highly effective sessions on Contemporary Leadership Essentials and Communicating to Lead, mastering influence and connection.
Participants gained immediate confidence in public speaking and leadership capability through PRINT™ behavioural insights, with one emerging leader noting the experience “surpassed any expectations I had walking into this.”
The cross-regional representation proved particularly valuable, with the cohort highlighting the strength of networking opportunities that connected people from across Western Australia’s diverse wine regions. Denmark hosted the second workshop, Strategic Leadership. Dom Sheldrick (Performance Development Consultant and Executive Coach) presented Resilient Leadership, building deeper capability across mental toughness, emotional intelligence, and strategies for leading effectively through uncertainty and pressure.
Caroline Robinson (150 Square) brought governance to life with her dynamic delivery of Governance in Action, covering board structures, meeting management, and the practical skills needed to contribute confidently to committees, councils, and regional decision-making.
Said one of the graduates, Chris Gilmore, Viticulturist, “This program delivered tangible, forefront leadership knowledge with solid principles in presentation and governance, alongside significant internal grounding experiences. I found a common thread of fostering communication and advocacy for collaborative agendas across sectors and regions, within the wine industry.”
The integrated venue format enhanced learning, while collaborative work continued on the program’s Pitch Projects, supporting sector innovation and reinforcing key concepts from the foundation workshop. Rachel Triggs (Strategic Development Advisor and winemaker) delivered Strategic Leadership for Sustainable Wine Business Growth during the final workshop, addressing strategic planning, risk
assessment, advocacy, and succession skills while covering global and domestic regulatory landscapes
and industry trends.
Georgina Beniston returned to book-end the program, guiding the cohort through Reflect, Celebrate, and Grow, exploring inclusive leadership and long-term business sustainability before finalising leadership goals. Another graduate, Sam Palmer, winemaker, shares that “over the course of the program we were challenged and tested, shared our vulnerabilities and insecurities, and learnt so much about ourselves, our leadership styles and how best to put that in action.”
Across all three workshops, the Cultivate Leadership program is set to shape a new generation of winemakers, viticulturists, and wine business professionals who are ready to lead with resilience, strategic clarity, and a deep commitment to Western Australia’s wine future. According to Eloise Jarvis, Program Lead – Cultivate Leadership (Great Southern), “Our wine regions depend on capable, confident, and collaborative leaders and it’s been a privilege and inspiring to meet the 12 graduating cohort and to share their CL25 journey.
Importantly WoWA’s Board prioritised this program ensuring that our emerging leaders are not only technically skilled, but strategic, resilient, and ready to guide the industry into its next phase.” Graduation Presentation Networking Sundowner. The graduation celebration showcased the program’s practical impact through four collaborative pitch projects addressing critical regional challenges. Teams presented innovative solutions including:
– Blackwood Wine Collaborative – a proposed shared cellar door model to strengthen regional identity and tourism access for producers without individual facilities in the Blackwood Valley wine region;
– Can of Worms – a three-year, multi-regional and winery operation size vermifiltration pilot using BioFiltro’s BIDA system to deliver sustainable wastewater management with up to 98% water recovery;
– Community Events & Collaborations – seeking support for facilitated industry gatherings to build connection across the Great Southern region’s geographically dispersed wine community; and
– The Big Blend – a Margaret River collaboration creating contemporary wine styles whilst mentoring next-generation winemakers, viticulturists and marketers.
Another cohort, Tayla Semmens, commented, “I am so grateful to be a part of this amazing program. Gaining a place in Cultivate Leadership 2025 means the chance to strengthen my leadership so I can grow Bridgetown Winery as a sustainable, community-driven business. It’s an opportunity to develop the skills and networks I need to support regional tourism, create local jobs, and champion innovation in both winemaking and wellness. For me this program represents a pathway to lead with purpose and make a lasting positive impact in my region.”
The presentations demonstrated participants’ strategic thinking and confidence, with attendees including representatives from Great Southern Wine Producers Association, Blackwood Valley Wine Industry Association, Great Southern Development Commission, City of Albany, State Parliament members Hon. Samantha Rowe MLC and Scott Leary MLA, alongside wine business owners and supporters from across
the regions, creating valuable networking opportunities and stakeholder engagement for these emerging initiatives.
If you would like to know more about the Pitches please contact Eloise Jarvis, [email protected]
From Left to Right:
Top: Samuel Palmer, Benjamin Totino, Laura Penniment, Christopher Gillmore
Centre: Ian Fenech, Christine Harper, Kelly Kay, Darren Stone
Bottom: Fi Borgomastro, Giacomo Picin, Liam Carmody, Tayla Semmens
Program Participants
Blackwood Valley
Kelly Kay Bunderra Estate Owner
Tayla Semmens Bridgetown Winery Owner
Geographe
Felicia Borgomastro Saint Aidan Wines Owner | Manager
Great Southern
Giacomo Picin Ferngrove Winemaker | Vineyard Manager
Ian Fenech Singlefile Wines Cellar Door Manager
Laura Penniment Alkoomi Wines Manager
Liam Carmody Forest Hill Estate | Lonely Shore Senior Winemaker | Owner
Samuel Palmer Castle Rock Estate Winemaker
Margaret River
Darran Stone Stones + Thunder Owner
Benjamin Totino Credaro Family Estate Assistant Winemaker
Christine Harper Passel Estate Sales Manager
Christopher Gillmore Clairault Streicker Wines Viticulturist | Senior Manager
Speaker Bios
Georgina Beniston
Is an executive coach specialising in conscious leadership, communication, and mindfulness. Georgina brings 17 years of cross-sector leadership experience. She helps leaders navigate complexity, build genuine connections, and realise their full potential.
Myles Pollard
Acclaimed actor, producer, and educator, Myles teaches performance skills and champions regional arts, including a decade as a CinefestOz Patron.
Dom Sheldrick
Performance consultant and executive coach with 20 years’ global experience. A former elite athlete and cancer survivor, Dom empowers leaders to build resilience, clarity, and high performance.
Caroline Robinson
Governance and strategy specialist supporting rural organisations to grow and thrive. Founder of the Wheatbelt Business Network and experienced board director dedicated to strengthening regional communities.
Rachel Triggs
Winemaker, lawyer, and wine industry executive with deep expertise in market access and global regulation. International wine law leader and author shaping policy across Australia and abroad.
Richard Hemming
Master of Wine, Head of Wine for 67 Pall Mall Asia-Pacific, and writer for JancisRobinson.com. A leading communicator, judge, and consultant across global and Asian wine markets.
For further information, contact Wines of WA:
Eloise Jarvis
Sustainability & Industry Project Manager
T – 0447 587 151
E – [email protected]
End of document
Wines of Western Australia
Level 17, 2 The Esplanade Perth WA 6000
T – 9284 3355 E – [email protected] W – www.winewa.asn.au
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